Liberty Institute in collaboration with Mumbai University plan to hold this capacity building conference, on Octoboer 14, 2011. Over the past few years, the scientific debate has intensified on the nature and possible causes underlying changing climate. Questions have arisen over the significance of man-made green house gases in stimulating global warming. Science progresses through such rational criticism and objective discourse, and not through consensus invoked by any authority. The conference provides an opportunity to scientists, policy makers, and scholars to exchange ideas.

Conference on Climate Change (CCC)

Science of Climate and Changing Public Policy:Realities and theories

Mumbai, India

October 14, 2011

(Proposed programme as of 10 Aug 2011)

Liberty Institute in collaboration with Mumbai University plan to hold this capacity building conference providing an opportunity to Indian and international scholars and policy makers to exchange ideas, and learning.

The conference may cover following themes and related issues.

Theme 1: Science of climate change

Theme 2: Extreme weather in the Indian subcontinent

Theme 3: Changing sea level (regional & global)

Theme 4: Monsoon variability and its impact on agriculture

Theme 5: Climate of discourse and India’s policy options

Call for Papers

For young scholars in India (below 35 years) there is an opportunity to participate in this conference. Those interested, are invited to submit an abstract (300) words on any of the themes and related issues, by August 31 2011. If the abstract is accepted, then the scholars will be invited to submit a paper (not exceeding 3000 words) by September 15. To facilitate the participation of a few selected young scholars, a grant will be available to meet travel and accommodation, providing an opportunity to share ideas with international experts.

Invitation to speakers

The conference is open to academics, researchers, policy makers, government officials, media, concerned citizens and civil society activists. There will be invited presentations as well as solicited presentations from scholars & researchers who may be interested in presenting a paper under any of the broad themes.

The speakers at the conference may agree that it is time to reconsider the science and economics of global warming. However, they may not all agree on the causes, extent, or consequences of climate change, or what should be done. The scientists and other experts are invited to share their research and engage in a reasoned and respectful debate with others.

About the Conference

Over the past few years, the scientific debate has intensified on the nature and possible causes underlying changing climate. Questions have arisen over the significance of man-made green house gases in stimulating global warming. Science progresses through such rational criticism and objective discourse, and not through consensus invoked by any authority.

The United Nation’s Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change, was formed in 1988, to provide an assessment of global climate change. IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) released in 2007, linked the warming over the past 30 yrs, about 0.7 C, to anthropogenic green house gases, particularly CO2. At the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), countries have been debating possible carbon emission targets to minimize future adverse impact of changing climate on human societies.

However, over the last few years, a number of errors have been found in the AR4. Also, a number of plausible alternative theories have emerged explaining possible changes in climate. Consequently, there is a growing need to reassess the policy options and the economic impact of climate. The government of India too has taken a number of initiatives to improve understanding of the underlying science and policy options.

The purpose of this international conference is to initiate a fresh discussion on the different dimension of the debate on global warming. The aim is to build a movement, a network of scientists, economists, policymakers, elected representatives and concerned citizens who believe in sound science and economic policy options. The goal is to limit the rampant fear mongering, exaggerated claims and media hype, which are casting a shadow on rational assessment of climate and objectively shaping policy, if any, to address the possible impact of changes in climate.

Background

In 2009, the Heartland Institute, a non-profit organization in the USA, had published the “Climate Change Reconsidered”, a 800-page report put together by an independent panel of scientists, under the banner of Non-governmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC). This report is perhaps the most comprehensive response to the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The next report of the NIPCC is expected to be released in 2013.

In 2010, Liberty Institute in New Delhi, in partnership with the Heartland Institute, reprinted the NIPCC report “Climate Change Reconsidered” for wider dissemination in India. In addition, the executive summary of the report has been translated in to different Indian languages – Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, and Telegu. These may help contribute to a more rational discourse on climate change.

A number of scholars from around the world are expected to participate in the international conference on Asian Marine Geology at the National Institute of Oceanography in Goa, October 10-14, 2011. We hope to invite some of them to the public forum in Mumbai, to share their thoughts on this challenging issue.

Organizing committee:

Initially, the committee may constitute of the following, and others may be invited as well.

Mugdha Karnik, sociologist, professor at University of Mumbai

Ranjan R Kelkar, meteorologist, former director general of the Indian Meteorology Department

Madhav Khandekar, meteorologist, former research scientist at Environment Canada, and an expert reviewer of IPCC’s assessment report 2007